• Opened in 2001
• Average time to produce a record: 7-10 working days

While many believe that vinyl is a product of the past, the actual demand for vinyl production is greater than ever. From the actual vinyl pressing, to the creation of a records label and packaging, producing a record is an extensive process. Therefore, many considerations should go into choosing the right vinyl press. Fiona from MIM speaks with George Howard and Deep Ubhi at QuickPress on the important components involved in producing top quality records.

Unique Technology
QuickPress’ machines are from all over the globe. There are only 3 or 4 types of vinyl presses ever made, and George and Dip Ubhi scoured the world in order to obtain the best. Their search ended in Bulgaria, Columbia and Russia, where they sourced specific presses that were only made between the-mid-to-late 1980s. Their boilers are also completely unrivalled, as no other record press in the world has their unique boiler system. While other press’ boilers usually take almost an hour and a half to heat up, QuickPress’ boilers are ready in ten minutes.

“Non Corporate” Mentality
QuickPress espouses a “non corporate” mentality, meaning that they always provide free, honest advice. With many of the larger companies, people often have to go through a broker. Quick Press, however, does not recommend going through a middleman. Instead, they want their clients to have direct contact with the production of their record. As Dip states, “When a track is hot, it is hot now. Music is extremely time-sensitive so the turnaround time is critical. We want to work with our clients to make sure that their track is still hot by the time it is released.”
Quality Materials
QuickPress only uses “virgin” vinyl (i.e. vinyl that has never been used), while many of their contemporaries use recycled vinyl. Using recycled vinyl results in a decidedly lesser sound quality. As George notes, “Ten years ago many people got away with poorly produced vinyl. Today, people are more aware of sound quality, making the quality of the actual material a very important factor. Our goal is to help the artist on the whole by providing them with the finest materials and a very direct, personal feel. I’ll be honest with someone who wants to produce a record cheaply with second rate materials. I’ll tell them where they can go to have that done, but I will not compromise to produce a vinyl of lesser quality.”

The Future of Vinyl
It seems that there is still a tremendous future for vinyl and vinyl presses. Quick Press began after the CD industry peaked, and their business has not been effected by either CDs or MP3s. As Dip explains, “Vinyl will always be around. It is a form from the streets that has always been an innovator in new music- from rock and rap to drum and bass. Although we are usually inundated with business, we plan not to really expand the company. The music industry is fickle. We would rather have a small business producing the finest vinyl than a large company where we would suffer from lulls and not be able to oversee all of our business.”

How to Press Vinyl
Creating a record is a complex process, but essentially breaks down into six separate steps:
1. Mastering: A mastered DAT or CD is brought to a vinyl press. Two main changes must occur to begin the process of audio mastering: tonal balancing and level adjustment.
2. Cutting: Once the mastered version is finished, the track will be cut into lacquer. A digitally created track will be converted into an analogue wave for cutting lathe. Transferred through an amplifier, the wave travels down the arm of a diamond-cutting stylus and onto a rotating lacquer disc.
3. Stamper: The lacquer or vinyl master is delivered to the pressing plant. The plant completes the following steps:
• The vinyl master is covered with a thin spray and dipped in a bath of electrolyte
• A current is passed through the solution
• The silver-sprayed lacquer becomes coated in nickel which creates a negative image of the vinyl
• A second generation negative is created and the nickel plate is peeled from this lacquer to become the “stamper.” The stamper represents a negative image of one side of the vinyl.
• Two stampers are needed to press up both an A- and B-sided record.
4. Test Pressing: With both stampers in place, a “puck” of vinyl is introduced into the press. Two labels are placed above and below the puck and the press is closed. In order to flow seamlessly into the grooves of the stamper, the vinyl is heated to 200? C. It is then rapidly cooled so that the vinyl can be immediately lifted out of the press. This whole process takes approximately 25 seconds. Normally, a short pressing of 10 copies is made first. These “test pressings” are sent to the record label for approval.
5. Labels: Many people are under the misconception that a “white label” is much cheaper than producing a professionally designed four-colour label. The real expense, however, comes from having the label incorporated into the vinyl. The colour of the label really makes no difference in this process.
6. Artwork: Image is key in almost every industry, making the music industry no exception. Great consideration should go into the label and its packaging, as well as the marketing accompanying its promotional push.